Environment
Need some good news about the environment? The Optimist Daily is your go-to herald of positive environmental news, highlighting eco-friendly solutions and scientific progress around climate action, circularity, conservation, and more. Learn about everything eco in our Environment section.
A bold step towards climate action and job creation: The American Climate Corps
The White House announced the creation of the American Climate Corps, a breakthrough program that will transform the climate action landscape. This ambitious project seeks to employ 20,000 people in its first year, paving the way for environmental sustainability, resilience, and economic Read More...
The Supreme Court of Brazil upholds indigenous land rights: a victory for conservation
Brazil's Supreme Court maintained Indigenous communities' land rights in a landmark decision, putting an end to the prospect of potential rollbacks on these critical safeguards. The court's judgment, made after reviewing a lawsuit filed by the state of Santa Catarina, represents a landmark victory Read More...
Rhino conservation success: Global populations surge to 27,000
In an encouraging turn of events, the worldwide rhinoceros population has defied the odds and demonstrated astonishing indications of recovery. These magnificent species, which once numbered approximately 500,000 in Africa and Asia in the twentieth century, have suffered grave threats from poaching Read More...
How swimmable cities could change the face of urban cooling
Swimming in floating pools in the Hudson and East Rivers was formerly a popular way for New Yorkers to escape the oppressive summer heat. These municipal baths provided a safer alternative to swimming in the river, providing much-needed relief. However, sanitation problems forced their Read More...
California passes radical emissions disclosure bill
California senators took a huge step toward corporate transparency by enacting Senate Bill 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act. This groundbreaking legislation establishes the nation's first mandate for significant U.S.-based firms operating in California to publicly declare their Read More...
Harnessing nature’s cooling power: US announces $1.13 billion investment in urban trees
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack of the United States presented a game-changing plan to address record-breaking heatwaves and climate change. This effort, which will receive $1.13 billion in competitive funding, aims to plant trees in metropolitan areas across all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Read More...
Ditch the rake and discover the benefits of leaving fallen leaves in your yard
The annual ritual of raking and disposing of fallen leaves has been engraved into the autumn dance for generations. But, in reality, those vivid plant layers offer more than just a gorgeous backdrop. They are an important part of nature's cycle, providing numerous advantages to our lawns and Read More...
A massive solar farm rises from a former landfill in the United Kingdom
The Ockendon solar farm, the third largest of its kind in the UK, is harnessing the power of the sun on what was once a bleak trash site in Essex in a revolutionary feat of eco-reinvention. The waste management company Veolia infused new life into this unexpected environment, where more than Read More...
European Commission President christens world's first "green shipping container"
On September 14th, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen christened the Laura Maersk, the world's first green container ship, in a historic ceremony. This extraordinary vessel, owned by the Danish business Maersk, is expected to change the future of marine transportation by running Read More...
A baby beaver sighting heralds the reemergence of California's beaver population
Bill Leikam, the president of the Urban Wildlife Research Project and fondly known as The Fox Guy, recently had a revelation while analyzing film from a wildlife camera along a Palo Alto creekbed. Amid the familiar wildlife, an unfamiliar creature darted across the screen. Leikam, a seasoned Read More...